A CNBC poll taken a little more than a year ago asked half of the 812 respondents if they supported the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the other half if they supported Obamacare. The results were rather interesting considering 37% stated that they opposed the ACA, while 46% stated that they opposed Obamacare.

Now as we all know these are simply two different names for the same law, but it is just one small sign of all the confusion and controversy surrounding this legislation. Keep in mind this survey was taken 3 years after the legislation was already signed into law. Even today there are still unknowns revolving around the future of this law considering the results of the midterm elections back in the fall and ongoing court cases.

Having said all of this, the law does have an annual open enrollment period and we are presently in the middle of that timeframe. This period of time allows for those who do not have medical insurance in place to obtain coverage and the 2015 deadline is February 15^th. This would allow for those looking to shop for individual policies to get coverage in place for an effective date of March 1st, if application is submitted by February 15^th. After this final deadline, only those who are experiencing a life qualifying event would be allowed to sign up for an individual insurance policy midyear through what is called a "special enrollment." Qualifiers for special enrollments are situations such as a loss of other coverage, a move in permanent residence, getting married or divorced, birth of a child or adoption.
 

In keeping up with the times, the SC Dental Association has begun writing private individual policies in addition to our 2 current group plan offerings. We can now provide quotes on up to 15 different individual policies for you to choose, so if you know someone who is looking for coverage, have them call our office to see if we can be of assistance and to help them avoid federal fees for not having coverage in place during the 2015 plan year.